SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Higher Certificate in Community Development 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
96414  Higher Certificate in Community Development 
ORIGINATOR
Cornerstone Institute (RF) NPC 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Higher Certificate  Field 07 - Human and Social Studies  People/Human-Centred Development 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 05  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to provide current community development workers and volunteers with the foundational knowledge and skills to formally qualify as community development practitioners.

Rationale:
The qualification responds to the growing and acknowledged need for training of community development workers (CDWs), as well as the need to professionalise the sector through formal qualifications of CDW's in community based organisations and local government.

A situational analysis conducted indicated that CDWs generally lack formal qualifications in community development, and specifically at NQF Level 5, even though they are presented as practitioners with a wide range of practical skills and recognised professional experience in the field.

The qualification aims to provide access to community development practitioners to formal and higher education qualifications, and to do so at an NQF-level that offers foundational knowledge to support professional practice, and leadership skills development to empower learners as leaders of practice in their field and local organisations. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Learners may apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) according to the Institution's RPL policies and procedures. Learners need to submit a portfolio of evidence for assessment to gain access to the qualification.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum admission requirements for this qualification are:
  • National Senior Certificate, Level 4 granting access to Higher Certificate studies.
    Or
  • National Certificate Vocational, Level 4 granting access to Higher Certificate studies.
    Or
  • Matriculation Certificate or equivalent. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at Level 5 and 6 totalling Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 5, Credits:
  • Introduction to Development, 6 Credits.
  • Communities of the Poor, 6 Credits.
  • Cultural Anthropology, 6 Credits.
  • Sociology of Development, 6 Credits.
  • Personal Development, 6 Credits.
  • Local Economic Development, 6 Credits.
  • Local Community Development, 6 Credits.
  • Leadership in Development Projects, 6 Credits.
  • Monitoring and Evaluation of Community, 6 Credits.
  • Projects, 6 Credits.
  • Community Mobilisation, 6 Credits.
  • Resource Mobilisation, 6 Credits.
  • Participatory Methods, 6 Credits.
  • Community Research Methods, 6 Credits.
  • Community Fieldwork, 12 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 6, Credits:
  • Ethics, 6 Credits.
  • Organisational Management Conflict Resolution and Negotiation skills, 6 Credits.
  • Urban and Rural Development Issues, 6 Credits.
  • Perspectives on Transformation, 6 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    Exit level outcomes include the demonstrated ability to:
  • Apply effective leadership and management principles in community projects;
  • Evaluate the nature and sources of conflict and identify and apply methods of appropriate resolution methods;
  • Develop monitoring and evaluation processes and frameworks for project analysis;
  • Discuss and evaluate the different approaches to rural and urban development among poor communities;
  • Identify key role players and resources in communities and identify strategies for mobilising communities and resources;
  • Identify and apply best practice community participation methods for specific development projects;
  • Design and execute a practical community needs analysis leading to a project in which the student engages through participation and reflection. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria are applied in an integrated way to the Exit level Outcomes, and include:
  • Demonstrated observation, listening and communication skills in verbal and written formats;
  • Demonstrated critical understanding of the theory and practice of Christian ministry;
  • Demonstrated independent and critical thinking and decision-making in evaluating and implementing ministry plans and projects.

    Integrated Assessment:
    (Summative, Formative and or WIL):
  • Continuous assessment: The student's ability to integrate the elements of the qualification is assessed through tasks, activities and self-assessment.
  • Formative and summative assessment: Student competency is assessed through presentations, personal interviews, service learning (under supervision), written assignments (e.g., reports, skills development exercises, case study responses, research papers, journals, verbatim) and written evaluations (e.g., quizzes, class tests, mid-module exams, final exams.
  • Student may gain credit through RPL for certain modules bases on an assessment of acceptable prior learning earned through formal/non formal/informal learning. If the previous work completed is at the same NQF level, then credit transfer is applied. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Country: Fiji.
    Institution: University of the South Pacific.
    Qualification Title: Certificate in Community Development.
    This qualification is similar to the qualification offered by the above country in terms of the following: this qualification differs from this qualification therein that the certificate offered by the USP focus specifically on community development practices without broader sociological knowledge and skills of community engagement, such as for community and/or resource mobilisation, which is a particular area of interest for the HCCD. Leadership studies also are not a dedicated focus in the USP certificate, as in the Cornerstone HCCD.

    Country: Botswana
    Institution: Development Management.
    Qualification Title: Diploma in Community Development.
    This qualification is similar to the qualification offered by the above country in terms of the following: this qualification differs from this qualification therein that the diploma offered by the IDM aims to equip the learners with skills with a business focus, whereas the HCCD we offer focus on development studies, while both target professions in public service, poverty relief, and social services. Both qualifications articulate to degree level qualifications. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Higher Certificate for Christian Ministry, Level 5.
  • Higher Certificate in Community Development Work, Level 5.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Bachelor of Theology in Community Leadership, Level 7.
  • Bachelor of Arts, Level 7. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced qualification.
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Cornerstone Institute (RF) NPC 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.